6 Steps To A Stress Free Thanksgiving
I love Thanksgiving, and I am truly thankful for all of my good fortunes. When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of food, family, friends, and football. I know that for many, holiday time can be stressful or depressing, but for me I feel like this is when I really shine.
It really is not about how big, or small your crowd is, but about appreciating how wonderful things are, and hopes for better things to come in the future. My crowd size varies from year to year, from as small as six people, to as large as twenty. Personally for me, ten people are the most comfortable size for me to cook for.
This year I am doing something a little different. I am hosting a pre-dinner the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at one home to spend time with those who will not be with us on Thanksgiving.
Then on the actual day of the holiday, I will host another Thanksgiving with some different guests at a different house. The menus will be different, as will the locations and ambiance, which makes it more interesting for me to plan and prep.
I used to get very stressed out cooking for the holidays, wanting everything to be perfect, but those years are long gone. Now, I am pretty confident in my cooking and hosting abilities, but can also shrug it off if something doesn’t turn out just right. And the biggest thing I do is that I don’t try to go it alone.
My two daughters are awesome sous chefs, which helps a lot with holiday meal preparations and cooking. I love teaching my girls to cook, and seeing that growth from year to year.
So while my holiday menus are mostly decided, I am now teetering between a roasted turkey or a fried turkey. For a while there, I was really on a fried turkey kick, and then I got over it and went back to the traditional roasted turkey.
In the last three years, I have roasted the turkeys, after brining them for 48 hours before cooking, and they were absolutely moist and delicious. But it may be time for a change-up again. Either way, I plan on a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Here Are My 6 Tips For A Stress Free Thanksgiving...
Plan Ahead - Once you know how many people you will be hosting, start planning seating, your menu, and beverages.
Make Ahead - Many dishes, especially desserts and appetizers can be made ahead of time.
Enlist Help - Have your kids, partner, or friends assist as needed with food prep, serving, and especially the clean-up.
Bring A Dish - When entertaining large groups, have guests bring side dishes, desserts, or beverages.
Perfection Not Required - Cut yourself some slack. Remember the gathering is about being together and giving thanks.
Size Does Not Matter - Whether your celebration consists of 2 or 20 people, remind yourself that you have something to be thankful for.
What are your holiday plans? Hosting a dinner? Attending someone else's dinner as a guest? Or going out for a nice steak dinner at a restaurant? Please share your plans and tips for having a wonderful, stress-free Thanksgiving! And have a Happy Thanksgiving!
When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others. - Dalai Lama
